For the third time this season, Chatham Town Women have battled past Dartford women, but whilst the first two were in early rounds of other Cups, this third victory has seen Keith Boanas’s side crowned “Queens of Kent” as the Chats for the first time have won the DFDS Kent Women’s Cup. 

The Darts went into the Final as holders after last season’s triumph over Aylesford Ladies, but the Chats were hunting a Cup double after already so gloriously landing the Isthmian League Cup last month.

But this Final was one that Club Chairman Kevin Hake has eyed all season long, and Boanas and his side delivered, but they had to dig so deep at the end of a long season against a strong and sometimes physical Dartford side. 

Isthmian Final hat-trick hero Jess King gave the Chats the half time lead from a corner which somehow fell to her practically on the goal-line.

Keeper Simone Eligon then saved a tame penalty from Lizzie Adams before making an incredible save to keep out a flying header.

There were several flash points in the opening half as the game seemed to get away from referee Allen, and that pattern continued after the break but as the Chats’ far superior fitness began to tell in the later stages, Amelia Woodgate’s brilliant cross was superbly powered home at the back post by Lottie Sharp to seal the Trophy and not even sub-Gabby Howell’s stoppage time goal could recover the contest for the holders and there is a now new name on the Kent Women’s Cup. 

Tackles flew in from both sides from the word go and quite how the official didn’t book anyone was unbelievable. The Chats knew that they had to get the Darts to chase the game with an early goal and that duly arrived as Darts keeper Jade Charlton made a right meal of trying to collect Lucy Jones’ shot allowing the ball to come free in the box. Oti Charles’s shot was blocked, but King was on hand to force the ball over the line and give the Chats the lead. 

Dartford were then literally handed a gilt-edged chance to level almost immediately as Adams and Meg Maslak were battling for the ball in the Chats box and Maslak clearly won the ball but as Adams went down inexplicably the official pointed to the spot.

But justice was done when Eligon literally fell on Adams’ effort to save. Moments later though the Chats keeper produced a world class full length save to keep out a diving header after a blue shirt got free in the box.

This was undoubtedly the holder’s best spell of the match and Eligon again had to be at her best to magnificently claw away a super ball into the box from Emily Woodhouse. 

Things began to boil over when a horribly late lunge by Shauni Griffiths on Ellie Perkins left the Chats defender in a heap and needing attention. There was another flash point on the stroke of half that followed another ridiculously late Dartford lunge – this time by Beth Powell on full-back Lucy Jones with the Darts defender extremely fortunate to only see a yellow card – that saw the already booked Oti Charles for the Chats get involved in a kerfuffle that followed.  

When the actual football was allowed to resume, King should really have doubled the Chats lead just before the break. Woodgate did brilliantly to leave two defenders in her wake practically on the goal-line and from her pull-back, King stroked the ball wide. 

Charles was replaced at the break by Millie Raynor and the giant striker’s arrival seemed to calm things down a touch, and the second half was much better as a spectacle for a decent sized crowd at the Gallagher on a balmy evening. 

Sharp and Woodgate almost combined but Sharp’s ball was inches too far in front of Woodgate’s stretching foot. Eliogon then came to the Chats rescue again as a Dartford free kick ricocheted around in the box and but for the keeper’s incredible reactions the holders would have been levelled. 

As the game wore on Dartford got more and more stretched and the Chats’ superior fitness really showed none more so that midfielder Jas Auguste – who just four days earlier had completed the London Marathon in just over four and a quarter hours – and along with Ciara Hynes in the middle of the park, both worked tirelessly throughout. 

Jones was only inches away from doubling the lead after Sharp’s great run and pull back, but then ten minutes from time, Woodgate outpaced her defender, and her super cross saw Sharp leaping like a salmon at the far post to power her header past Charlton and send the Chats fans who had made the trip down Bluebell Hill to the Gallagher into wild celebrations. 

Dartford did pull one back in the first minute of what proved to be nearly eleven minutes of stoppage time. From yet another bizarrely given free kick, the ball dropped to an unmarked Howell who fired home in off the post sparking another very untidy confrontation in the back of the net. 

The final whistle brought scenes of Dartford despair and Chatham congratulations and when skipper Grace Coombs stepped up to receive the Cup from Kent FA Chair Denise Richmond, the Chats Cup double was complete – any one for a treble? 

CHATHAM TOWN WOMEN – Eligon, Maslak, Perkins, Coombs, Jones, Hynes, Auguste (Cofie), Amelia Woodgate (Maddy Woodgate), Charles (Raynor), King, Sharp.

Subs not used – Laverick, Dunn. 

DARTFORD WOMEN – Charlton, Davis, Davies, Adams (Smith), Griffiths, Russ, Alberts, Powell, Payne, Woodhouse (Howell), Dolby.

Sub not used – Smith.

REFEREE – Ms. Allen 

Pictures supplied by Allen Hollands.